Les Spann • Gemini

 

Review
by Alex Henderson  
Les Spann was a perfect example of a jazz artist who had an impressive list of sideman credentials but never got very far as a leader. Although he played with heavyweights like Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Hodges, and Ben Webster, the guitarist/flutist didn't record on his own extensively -- which is regrettable because Spann was an intriguing musician. How many guitarists are equally proficient when it comes to playing the flute? Spann's two instruments get equal time on Gemini, an excellent hard bop date that was produced by the ubiquitous Orrin Keepnews. This album, which Fantasy reissued on CD on its Original Jazz Classics imprint in 2001, was recorded at two different sessions in December 1960. One finds Spann on flute, while the other finds him on guitar. Both sessions employ Julius Watkins on French horn, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Sam Jones on upright bass, but there are two different drummers -- Al "Tootie" Heath at one session, Louis Hayes at the other. Spann gives 100 percent at both sessions. As a guitarist, he is bluesy and expressive on material that ranges from Quincy Jones' "Stockholm Sweetnin'" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" to the standard "There Is No Greater Love." But he is equally impressive when he picks up the flute on tracks that include the melancholy "Afterthought" and a lyrical performance of the standard "It Might as Well Be Spring." One thing Spann doesn't do on this album is play both flute and guitar on the same tune; he is careful to keep them separate. And while it would have been interesting to hear him play a flute solo right after a guitar solo, Gemini is still excellent. It's too bad that Spann didn't do a lot more recording as a leader.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/gemini-mw0000016497

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Revisar
por Alex Henderson
Les Spann fue un ejemplo perfecto de un artista de jazz que tenía una impresionante lista de credenciales como acompañante pero que nunca llegó muy lejos como líder. Aunque tocó con pesos pesados como Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Hodges y Ben Webster, el guitarrista/flautista no grabó mucho por su cuenta, lo cual es lamentable porque Spann era un músico intrigante. ¿Cuántos guitarristas son igualmente competentes cuando se trata de tocar la flauta? Los dos instrumentos de Spann obtienen el mismo tiempo en Gemini, una excelente fecha de hard bop que fue producida por el omnipresente Orrin Keepnews. Este álbum, que Fantasy reeditó en CD en su sello Original Jazz Classics en 2001, fue grabado en dos sesiones diferentes en diciembre de 1960. Una encuentra a Spann en la flauta, mientras que la otra lo encuentra en la guitarra. Ambas sesiones emplean a Julius Watkins en la trompa, Tommy Flanagan en el piano y Sam Jones en el contrabajo, pero hay dos bateristas diferentes: Al "Tootie" Heath en una sesión y Louis Hayes en la otra. Spann da el 100 por ciento en ambas sesiones. Como guitarrista, es blusero y expresivo en material que va desde "Stockholm Sweetnin'" de Quincy Jones y "Con Alma" de Dizzy Gillespie hasta el estándar "There Is No Greater Love". Pero es igualmente impresionante cuando toca la flauta en temas que incluyen la melancólica "Afterthought" y una interpretación lírica del estándar "It Might as Well Be Spring". Una cosa que Spann no hace en este álbum es tocar la flauta y la guitarra en la misma melodía; tiene cuidado de mantenerlos separados. Y aunque hubiera sido interesante escucharlo tocar un solo de flauta justo después de un solo de guitarra, Géminis sigue siendo excelente. Es una lástima que Spann no haya hecho muchas más grabaciones como líder.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/gemini-mw0000016497

Tracks:
1 - Smile 6:10
2 - Con Alma 3:33
3 - Q's Dues Blues 6:11
4 - It Might As Well Be Spring 4:41
5 - Stockholm Sweetnin' 5:31
6 - Blues For Gemini 4:51
7 - Afterthought 5:04
8 - There Is No Greater Love 4:46


Credits:
    Design – Ken Deardoff
    Double Bass – Sam Jones
    Drums – Albert Heath (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7), Louis Hayes (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 8)
    Flute – Les Spann (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7)
    French Horn – Julius Watkins
    Guitar – Les Spann (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 8)
    Liner Notes – Chris Albertson, Orrin Keepnews
    Photography By – Lawrence N. Shustak
    Piano – Tommy Flanagan
    Producer – Orrin Keepnews
    Recorded By, Engineer – Ray Fowler
    Remastered By – Kirk Felton

Notes:
Recorded New York City; December 8 (#1, 4, 6, 7) & 16 (#2, 3, 5, 8), 1960.
Total Time: 41:14

Label:    Jazzland – JLP 935S, Jazzland – 935S
Country:    US
Released:    1961
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/4354386-Les-Spann-Gemini

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